Making a Difference
During an Unforgettable Year
T
he Covid 19 pandemic, and other major events
throughout 2020 will always be remembered as a significant part of history.
At the onset, we were a bit surprised that a pandemic was occurring in the United States in the 21st century. Suddenly there was so much to think about, react to, and plan for. Reflection over the last year reminds us that history repeats itself. George Eastman opened the Rochester Dental Dispensary in 1917 to help those facing barriers
to dental care. We learned that the Dispensary stayed open to serve the community when the Flu pandemic hit the area in the fall of 1918. Ever since then, serving the community and improving access to care is exactly what we’ve been doing, and this pandemic was no exception. Treating patients with infectious diseases is nothing new for oral health care providers. But with Covid-19, there was so much we didn’t know early on. The initial trepidation and uncertainty didn’t weaken the commitment and dedication of our staff, residents and faculty, who hit the ground running. We worked closely together and with URMC leadership to continue doing what we’ve always been leaders in: Treating patients. Educating. Gathering scientific evidence. Innovating. Breaking barriers. In this issue, you’ll find examples of all of these. The Howitt Urgent Dental Care team triaged 80-100 patients a day, who traveled from 48 surrounding counties because care was unavailable elsewhere. Staying compliant with physical distancing, every EIOH department helped treat these emergency patients throughout the building during the shutdown. This was critical to help keep dental emergencies away from the hospital EDs. With the invaluable help of Keith Bullis, Dr. Jack Caton, Linda Lipani and her staff, faculty and course directors, we quickly transitioned to online education. Dr. Yanfang Ren worked with many to gather compelling evidence that provided sound solutions for patient and provider safety.
“My grandmother [Dorothy D. Voorhees] recalled that her father [Dr. Burkhardt, pictured] soldiered on through the 1918 pandemic, though he wore a mask all the time and school was sometimes outside, even in winter.” - Richard D. Quodomine, Dr. Burkhardt’s great grandson.
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eioh
| university of rochester medical center
We organized and hosted a widely attended International Forum, led by Drs. Cyril Meyerowitz and Yanfang Ren, where oral health leaders around the world gathered virtually in real time to learn from each other’s unique experiences and discuss ways to safely treat patients and engage in meaningful research. More than 1800
